Penang Gerakan has expressed strong support to the 25 retired civil servants and individuals who urged a consultative process on Islamic laws within the country’s constitutional democracy.

The 25, including former Home Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Din and former Foreign Affairs secretary-general Ahmad Kamil Jaafar, have sent an open letter urging Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to improve his leadership amidst the growing racial and religious remarks issued by his ministers.

State party chairperson Teng Chang Yeow said today he gives his “unwavering support” to the 25, saying he shares their concern of the rise of extreme racial and religious elements in this country in recent years.

“The situation has led to the unfortunate deterioration of ethnic relations, eroded the rakyat’s confidence and trust in the essential national institutions like judiciary and enforcement agencies, and undermined social stability,” Teng said in a statement.

“The joint statement could not have arrived at the right time, and the message that it intends to send could not have been more apt and relevant,” he added.

When asked, Teng said he was merely issuing the statement as a Penang Gerakan chief, as he has yet to consult other BN allies - Umno, MCA and MIC - over the matter.

Syariah laws cannot supersede consitution

But Teng stressed that the federal constitution is the supreme law of the land and any law enacted, including Islamic laws, cannot violate the constitution.

He said this pointing particularly to the provisions on fundamental liberties, federal-state division of powers and legislative procedures.

“It is high time for political leaders from both sides of the political divide to reaffirm and honour the tenets of the Rukunegara, which includes Malaysia as a country, is committed to guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions,” he said.

He is convinced that a rational and informed consultation process involving all stakeholders on Islamic laws in Malaysia,  how they are codified and implemented, is the best solution.

Such healthy and constructive conversation should never be regarded as an insult to Islam or to the religious authorities, Teng said.

“I share the same view with the 25 that any attempt or threat to use the Sedition Act or any laws to silence any differing views is counter-productive,” he added.

However, since Merdeka this year, the BN government that Teng supports has probed, questioned or detained more than 20 individuals - opposition politicians, academics, activists, student leaders, preachers and journalists under the Sedition Act.

The latest to come under the Act is popular cartoonist Zunar, real name Zulkeflee Anwar Haque, for his political satire.

Teng's boss, Najib, has backtracked on his promise to abolish the Sedition Act and instead, the British legacy will be further “strengthened and fortified”.

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